2 more Tri-Cities COVID-19 deaths for 74 total. Positive cases increase 1%

Two more deaths have been reported in the Tri-Cities area from complications of COVID-19, bringing the total to 74.

The Washington Department of Health is reporting 1,002 deaths statewide.

Known cases in Benton and Franklin counties increased by 14 since Sunday, a 1% increase. Known cases increased by 10 on Sunday, which was less than 1%, according to the Benton Franklin Health District.

As of Monday, there are now 1,362 cases in the two counties and 18,611 in the state.

The most recent deaths were a Benton County man in his 60s and a Franklin County woman in her 70s. Both were at risk of serious cases of COVID-19 because of their age and also because each had underlying health conditions.

All but five people who have died from complications of COVID-19 in the Tri-Cities area have had underlying health conditions, such as heart or lung disease or diabetes.

There are now 58 deaths in Benton County and 16 in Franklin County, according to the local health district.

The number of healthcare workers known to be infected with the new coronavirus since the start of the pandemic increased by six to 186. They may include workers caring for patients in hospitals, clinics and nursing or other long term care homes.

The number of hospitalized patients with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 dropped from 36 on Friday to 33 on Monday. They account for 13% of people hospitalized in Richland, Kennewick, Pasco and Prosser.

Deaths, cases by age

The total number of cases in senior living and long-term care homes is now 302, up one since Sunday.

Health district officials corrected information on cases in residents to put them at 182, moving one case to the tally for staff at the homes.

Of the total deaths in the two counties, 70%, or 52 out of 74, have been associated with senior living or long-term care homes.

The total deaths have been about evenly split between men and women, with 49% of the deaths in men and 51% in women.

The number of known cases in Benton County as of Monday was 785 and Franklin County had 577 cases.

The majority of cases, 81%, were confirmed through testing. Test results were not available for the rest of the cases, but patients had symptoms and close contact with confirmed cases.

A breakdown by age shows that people in their 20s through 50s are most likely to be known to be infected. Each 10-year grouping had least 200 known cases.

People in their 60s had 123 of the known cases, and that dropped to 102 people in their 70s, 77 people in their 80s, and 40 people in their 90s.

There were 110 people younger than 20.

The deaths have included four people in their 50s, 12 in their 60s, 21 in their 70s, 20 in their 80s, 16 in their 90s and one person who was at least 100.

This story was originally published May 18, 2020 at 2:33 PM.